Chapter 139

In a dark shadowy room, two figures sat across from each other, the table between them a board filled with various pieces of some complicated game. While it would be clear that one was a man and the other a woman, their facial features were strangely obscured preventing recognition.

"The Idol is in danger. Are you not going to send a force to aid?" the woman asked as she looked towards the man.

"There is no need. I'm too far, besides it isn't like your side can afford to lose them either." the man answered with confidence as he shuffled some pieces around.

"Well let us hope all goes as you desire, it isn't like I can truly gauge and replicate the thoughts of your opponent after all."

I awoke to find myself in the familiar endless black space surrounded by my twenty past incarnations. It was strange as usually I had only come here after experiencing the life of one of them, yet I hadn't had any new memories. Unlike the last few times I'd been here, each of the incarnations had a pedestal in front of them, various colored orbs floating above, with the exception of the three whose lives I had already experienced.

Each pedestal had a plaque that I could only assume was the name of what the orb was. Velen's empty one said Bloodlust, while Vellastria's said Dread Lightning, a Skill that I could only assume had merged with Desiccating Yin. As for Velkis, the plaque simply said Heightened Potential, a vague name that was apparently not something that appeared on my Status.

The other pedestals all had interesting names, some of which I was more interested in than others. The Oni Veldarix had Giant Slayer, while the incarnation to his left was Dark Dragon Queen. There were many others, Viral Fangs, Kin of Demons, Frozen Soul, Seeress, and many others. While there were many that I was quite interested in, the one belonging to Vell'prara'stasiela, Devouring Strength, and one that belonged to a male incarnation, Thread Sight, were the ones I was most interested in.

While I couldn't be sure what either of them did and I wasn't able to use Seshat's Library in this place, just as I couldn't view my Status, I could vaguely guess, or at least hope what they did. Devouring Strength I assumed was something about eating or otherwise siphoning strength from others. Thread Sight seemed like it would allow me to see the Threads I had once glanced upon when sharing my sight with the third prince, Taylor.

I assumed that I now had a choice in who I inherited from and I doubted I would be able to take more than a single one. If things progressed as they had, it would be another year before I would come here again, the biggest question was whether that would be every year from her on until I'd gotten them all or if there was some limit. It was better to assume that there was some limit as it would be a good thing if there wasn't, but wouldn't be outside of my expectations if it did.

I hesitated and mulled the decision for quite some time before settling on taking Thread Sight. I had already remembered some of Vell'prara'stasiela's life so it might be possible that I could remember it all on my own and inherit her Skill that way. If I learned that it wasn't possible I could always take it next year assuming I had at least one more choice.

With my choice made I walked up to the pedestal before the greyscale statue of the scrawny and densely robed alien figure and placed my hand around the white orb.

Sharp pain shot through my hand and arm as if thousands of needles were being pierced deeply into my skin and made their way up to my head. The life of Velmir began to unfold before my eyes, a man whose intentions were misunderstood. A monk dedicated to a small and secretive sect called Lore Keepers, they who swore to preserve the truth of everything, and ironically, worshippers of Seshat along with Thoth.

Velmir worked tirelessly to preserve and understand the truth of not only the history, but the entire fabric of the multiverse. His quest for truth led him into the arms of the one known as the Weaver, a being of incomprehensible power. The Weaver sat at the center of everything, crafting a grand tapestry, however unlike a normal tapestry, this one rippled and changed even as it was woven.

Velmir did many tasks for the Weaver in exchange for fragments of its knowledge, some worse than others. The murder of an infant who may grow to become a scourge upon everything, the planting of evidence against a nobleman to incriminate him for a crime he didn't commit, among others. Each act taken solely by itself seemed to be nothing but wanton death, destruction and lies, yet, according to the Weaver at least, each act would ripple through the tapestry and protect countless others.

Velmir was also the first of my incarnations who I'd lived through the memories of that actually died of old age, satisfied with his life. Of course there were many who hated, despised, and wished he were dead, but he was definitely the best incarnation I'd encountered so far. His methods were extreme and often cruel, but his intentions were good at the very least, not something that could be said for the other lives I had experienced.

After experiencing his calm and satisfied death, I felt much more at ease with everything I'd ever done. Perhaps in the future, after I was dead and gone, another Vel would look at my life and ponder about the morality of my choices. It also reinforced the idea that Ilya had instilled in me, that I should do as I please, the only one who can judge my actions is myself, regardless of whether others view my actions as evil or not, all that mattered was what I thought.

I spent some time reflecting on my life so far as the familiar space began to fade away, my consciousness fading once again.